Operatives of Rapid Response Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command have recovered the body of missing real estate executive, Richard Ekpeboh from a forest between New NDDC Road and Otuokpoti in Ogbia local government area of the state.
Police said Ekpeboh was shot in the head in what appeared to be an execution, while his body was dumped in the bush by his assailants.
Ekpeboh was the Vice Chairman of Real Estate Consultants’ Association of Bayelsa and an indigene of Ammassoma in Southern Ijaw local government area.
He went missing on July 24, 2025, after leaving home and failing to return.
According to family sources, after several calls by the worried wife, she only got a response three days later through a WhatsApp chat, where the husband claimed that he was fine and asked her not to worry.
“Further prompting by the wife that she would reach out to the extended family to ask him why he abandoned the house was met by a promise to send money via POS. A sum of N15,300 was purportedly sent to a POS agent and not her account. He also revealed that he is owing two persons N9 million and N3 million within the association,” he said.
However, it was later discovered that those who abducted and allegedly killed Ekpeboh were the ones using his phone to chat with his wife. His friends and colleagues eventually reported the matter to the police.
The RRS operatives led by CSP Bishop Elemide, acted on intelligence with the help of some youths and an eyewitness.
“We, the youths assisted in recovering the body. The place it was dumped was a swamp. His head was blown off by gun shot,” a youth volunteer stated.
During police investigation, it was discovered that two young men in a blue Honda V-Boot had dragged Richard into the forest before two gunshots were heard.
The assailants later escaped with their own car and the deceased’s Toyota Matrix car.
It was also revealed that there was a struggle between the deceased and his killers with footwear discovered a few metres from where the body was discovered.
Confirming the development, a Senior Police officer who pleaded anonymity, said that the homicide department of the State Criminal Investigation Department may take over the case and already working on two facts.
“We are looking at the fact that it may be a case of business deals gone wrong with members of his Association of Real Estate Consultants or that he may be involved in cybercrime or money laundering deal that went wrong.
“We will get to the root of the matter and bring the culprits to book. Efforts are on to apprehend the assailants”, he said, adding that the Commissioner of Police, CP Francis Idu was fully aware of the development.
